The Sooners enter Big 12 play with a 6-5 record, their worst nonconference record under sixth-year head coach Lon Kruger and their worst record beginning conference play since 1980-81, 36 seasons ago, in Billy Tubbs first year at Oklahoma. The Sooners began that season going 5-6 to begin Big Eight play.
And their is little relief in sight with fourth-ranked Baylor as OU’s opponent in the conference opener on Friday. It might be a good thing that the Sooners’ opening Big 12 test is at home at Lloyd Noble Center, where they’ve been a very tough out throughout the arena’s 41-year history.